STRATFORD -- Grove Street in the town's Lordship section is one of those little lanes that no one seems to notice except for the people who live there.

But now it's become a hotbed of contention, thanks to a plan before the Zoning Board of Appeals that would add several homes and a new road at the street's eastern tip, nearly all of them to be constructed in the marshy wetlands that surround Sikorsky Memorial Airport, and wetlands that separate Lordship from Stratford proper.

The matter first came up at the July 2 ZBA meeting, and it'll be on the agenda again for Sept. 3.

It's expected that most of the neighbors on the street will voice their opposition to the plan, as well as environmental groups and even a group of pilots who support the airport. The new homes would be less than 1,000 feet from runway 24/9, Sikorsky's principal runway.

Only three of the 11 homes in the new subdivision would be in compliance with town zoning regulations, which require a 75-foot setback to known wetlands. The remaining eight proposed building lots would need a variance from the ZBA

Also voicing opposition to the subdivision is Town Planner Gary Lorentson, who, in a letter to the board, said that the 75-foot setback is vital to the protection of those marshy wetlands, and that the plan would run afoul of both state and local coastal management policies.

And a flood map provided to the Post by the Planning Office showed that in a 100-year storm, most of the proposed subdivision would be underwater.

One neighbor contacted by the Post, who asked that her name not be used in this story, said that just about all of the 20 or so families on Grove Street are hoping the subdivision never gets built, noting, among other things, that a stand of mature trees at the end of the street would be chopped down, exposing residents to more noise from the airport, as well as generally detracting from the beauty of the neighborhood.

But another neighbor, who also didn't give his name, said that he was in favor of the development, saying that it would preserve Grove Street's dead-end.

The subdivision would require the construction of a new L-shaped street, Rooney Drive, which would begin at the end of Grove Street and end in a cul-de-sac about 250 feet east of where Grove Street ends, an area that's clearly in wetlands.

All of the subdivision, including the new street, would be situated on 3.4 acres.

Rooney is the name of the former property owner listed for 117 Grove St.; it's now listed as owned by 117 Grove Street LLC.

Rooney is also the name of the homeowner's estate at the foot of Grove Street whose lot would be needed for the beginning of the new street, according to town records.

Knott could not be reached for comment, but a soil scientist that he hired, William L. Kenny, of Fairfield, reported that "no inland wetlands or watercourses were reported within 100 feet of the properties," in his letter to the town that was part of Misty Blue's application, which was made on May 31.

David Faile, president of Friends of Sikorsky Airport, said that such a development, within a stone's throw of the runway, would only add to the number of people who are exposed to airport noise.

"We try to be good neighbors and we fly making as little noise as possible, but, let's face it, airports make noise," he said. "So, if this were approved, we would want it stated in the land records that the properties are near a runway, so the new owners would know that they're buying near an airport and that it can be noisy at times."

Faile also said that the development would likely need approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, known as Form 7.0-1, owing to its proximity to the runway.